BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 10 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Bufflehead In Northern Rockies

All regionsNorthern RockiesWaterfowl

Bufflehead in Northern Rockies has surged: up 223% on the route-weighted index since 1981.

+223%Since 1981
28Routes In Region
41Years

Notable Signals

long arc increasecomputed index

Bufflehead has surged in Northern Rockies: up 223% on the route-weighted index since 1981.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Bufflehead in Northern Rockies is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.14 (95% range 0.00–0.33). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±34.3%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-5%Change by 2029
0.14Projected 2029 index
0.00–0.3395% range
±34.3%Backtest error
19742029
Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.
YearProjected index95% low95% high
20250.140.000.33
20260.140.000.33
20270.140.000.33
20280.140.000.33
20290.140.000.33

Routes In Northern Rockies

Routes recording Bufflehead in Northern Rockies.
Hebgen LakeMONTANA162024
YellowstoneWYOMING92022
Salmon RiverIDAHO82002
Hayden ValWYOMING71985
NaplesIDAHO62016
Neponset ResUTAH52010
Red RockMONTANA41995
Lolo PassIDAHO32019
St MaryMONTANA22008
Wise RiverMONTANA22007
St. Mary 2MONTANA22024
East Glacier ParkMONTANA22024
NorthportWASHINGTON22021
MammothWYOMING22006
CabartonIDAHO12023
BurgdorfIDAHO12003
KalispellMONTANA12012
AugustaMONTANA12022
ClancyMONTANA12023
Inside RoadMONTANA12005
Summit PrOREGON12023
NewbridgeOREGON12024
LaurierWASHINGTON12010
Ne EntranceWYOMING11999
Hunter PeakWYOMING12006

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22.